The Four D’s of Stewardship
David Lacouture
October 30, 2016
In my various roles at St. James’ over the years, I have come to appreciate the notion that
stewardship is not destination but every evolving process. Stewardship encompasses a full
range of activities, both individual and collective, over time. It can change and take different
forms as we travel along our personal faith journeys.
While thinking about stewardship at St. James’, I came up with so many examples of
stewardship that I lost count. So I thought I would try to find a unifying concept that would
best describe the stewardship process in a broader sense.
After a brief search I discovered “The Four D’s of Stewardship” attributed to the Rev. Henry
Wildeboer, a retired Christian Reformed priest. These four D’s are as follows: Desire, Decision
Discipline and Delight. I was unable to find an interpretation from Rev Wildeboer but they
seemed quite fitting to Stewardship as I have come to understand it.
As we enter into the stewardship season, I offer here my own interpretation of the four D’s of
Stewardship in the context of my experiences at St. James’
Desire
One may not link the concept of desire with stewardship but it indeed makes sense. It’s what
I call the “seed” of stewardship. It’s a powerful idea and emotional word that embodies both
feeling and action. It’s personal, compelling and motivating. It lifts us up. It can result for
prayer or a personal experience that has touched us in some way.
Desire inspires us and urges us to take on responsibility and/or contribute to issues and causes
bigger and more significant than our own interests.
Decision
With the inspiration to take our desire to a point of contributing and supporting action, we
then ask ourselves, “How can I contribute?” “How do I engage?” “What are my talents and
gifts?” “How much time do I have to give?” “How much of my resources can I share?”
We often led to prayer at this point and seek God’s guidance on how we direct our desire and
make it both real and tangible. This step is the decision phase of stewardship. It is a personal
and important step. It is exactly what we do during Stewardship season when we submit our
pledge cards and proclaim we are prepared to joyfully commit our time, talent and treasure to
God. It’s time now to make the decision to commit to Stewardship
Discipline
Without the discipline and follow through, desire and decision phase of Stewardship is
worthless. Fortunately, there is plenty of stewardship discipline at St. James’. Our ability
sustain an active Episcopal faith community on the corner of Washington and Moore Street for
over 150 years is a testament to strong and on wavering tradition of stewardship discipline.
Consider the discipline of the founders of St James’ when, during the construction of the
church in 1859, a summer storm destroyed the initial framing. Yet, equipped with their
desire, decisions and incredible discipline, the church members started over again to complete
the very same sanctuary structure we enjoy today.
Consider too the various capital campaigns over the years to expand and improve the
infrastructure or the commitment of search committees to call new priests, or all the other lay
ministries from Alter Guild, music, Vestry, fund raising, Sunday school, and the back pack
program just to name a few.
We are here as the result of the stewardship discipline of hundreds of faithful St. James’
members who preceded us and we continue that stewardship discipline today and do so quite
naturally.
Delight
Like desire, delight was not a word I would have previously associated with stewardship but
upon further reflection it indeed makes sense. It is is perhaps the most accurate word to
describe a whole host of feelings such of satisfaction, pride, accomplishment and connection
and love of God and to one another. It is the stewardship investment “dividend” that one
really needs or expects but it sure bring joy to our lives.
My personal delight is felt every week when we are celebrate the Holy Eucharist in our
sanctuary. This is a gift I never take for granted. I know from my experience on the Vestry
that this seemingly simple ceremony takes many aspects of stewardship to make possible and
to sustain.
Other sources of delight are baptisms, weddings and other special occasions. I would include
funerals since it is so important to provide a place of worship for families who have
experienced a loss.
Delight also comes from fellowship gathering, mutual faith and support during tough times not
to mention our outreach ministries like the pack back program and giving tree.
So delight truly does have a place in the Stewardship process.
The Cycle Continues
This leads to the next phase of the process which actually takes us back to the beginning as
we start the process a new with a new and renewed desire to contribute more than before.
Whereas this seems like an academic study, we have all experienced this cycle to a certain
degree in one form or another as members of St. James’. It’s why we are all here and why will
continue to be a part of the St. James’ family.
Reflections on the Financial Life of the church
David Lacouture
I thought I would take a few moments to share my perspective of the finances at St James
from my experience as a pledger, vestry person, Warden, finance committee member.
Not matter how its defined, Mission and Ministry required money to succeed and sustain.
There is no doubt about it, it takes money to support our worship at St. James’. It really is
quite obvious to all of us but sometimes it’s honestly challenging for the Vestry to ensure we
can maintain all the traditions we love.
I have said on many occasions how carefully the finances at St. James’ are managed….and they
have to be, there is little wiggle room. The Vestry and finance committee truly do an amazing
job but funds can be tight in relation to what we expect.
As a Warden, one of my responsibilities was signing requisitions that approved the treasurer
to write checks. Even though every requisition had supporting back-up documentation to
justify the expense and I knew the expense was planned in the budget, sometimes the stack of
the requisitions would be quite intimating. The reality is simple, the bills need to be paid just
like in our own households or else…..
With this in mind, the Stewardship Committee and Vestry is making a request that you
consider increasing your 2017 pledge by 1%. Collectively, this small increase will help some of
the challenges but not all. Of course you are welcome to increase your pledge by more if you
can. Please give this request some thought and prayer as you consider your pledge.